I Met Her First... The Intermediate Spirit Undine
Undine clutched her trembling arms and drifted forward.
"Ridiculous...! Idiot, dummy, annoying human, piece of shit!"
Recalling the worst insults she knew, along with the profanities she had overheard from the mercenaries around Sein, Undine shuddered as she pictured the man who had provoked them.
"I thought he was a good human, but he only says mean things, and he kept doing whatever he wanted even when I told him no..."
Thinking back to what had happened today, her core throbbed. The pleasure Casano had gifted her had already melted completely into her body. Sensations and reactions that a spirit should never have been able to feel still lingered deep within her.
"Ah...!"
Feeling the wetness dripping from her lower half, Undine blushed and reached down to wipe it away.
"I've never leaked like this before..."
Having had her spirit core thoroughly filled with semen under Casano's hypnotic commands, Undine now secreted arousal fluids whenever she felt pleasure, completely independent of her own will. Of course, she had absolutely no idea why this was happening.
"At this rate, I'll really become Casano's... slave..."
The moment she closed her eyes, that maddening pleasure rushed back to her. It was a sensation on a completely different dimension from the simple happiness she had felt since birth as a pond spirit, or from exploring the world with Sein.
A pleasure so intense it shook her very existence, piercing through her soul. With that sensation still vivid in her mind, Undine vigorously shook her head to dispel the thoughts.
"Sein can do that too. I only need Sein."
She tried desperately to erase Casano's smirking face from her mind and focus on Sein. Yet, instead of the warm, gentle Sein who used to speak to her so kindly, her mind was flooded with images of a crippled, angry, and cold-faced Sein.
It was inevitable. Born as a pond spirit, she had only ever known the warmth and happiness of her fellow spirits. Having never experienced true hatred or anger, Undine was far more sensitive to negative emotions.
But since she didn't understand this, she could only feel bewildered. Sein was supposed to be kind, so why was her memory of him now dominated by him shouting and glaring in anger?
"...But Casano..."
Casano had been kind from the very moment they met. Even when she acted bratty or played pranks, he simply laughed it off. He had gone out of his way to help the injured Sein, and even herself, who was nothing but a burden. He had even taught her how to "serve" to help heal Sein, patiently guiding her through every step.
"But he still went too far..."
Even though she had begged him to stop, he had repeatedly pumped his semen directly into her spirit core. His semen, thick with life-force mana, had bonded with her core, linking them together. It was fortunate they hadn't performed a proper contract ritual, but Undine had no idea what would have happened to her if he had gone any further.
Even as she drifted through the air toward the camp, she couldn't untangle her chaotic thoughts. She had noticed the shift in Sein's attitude, just as Casano had predicted, and she was beginning to realize that Sein wasn't as purely innocent as she had once believed.
But they had left their home together and lived like family. She felt it was wrong to judge him so hastily without truly understanding what he was going through.
"Sein is just having a hard time right now because of his injury..."
Once they resolved this, Sein's legs would heal, and everything would go back to normal. If only they could resolve this...
Suddenly, the reality of her current situation dawned on her.
Under the guise of searching for an exit, she had left Sein behind to spend her time learning how to "serve" and please Casano.
Even when they went out to hunt goblins for the magic stones needed for a contract, she had ultimately succumbed to Casano's touch, receiving his semen over and over again.
Several days had passed, yet they had made no real progress, and nothing had improved.
"...No, that's not true..."
Undine desperately tried to ignore the fact that she had wasted all this time.
Her mind was a tangled mess of guilt and anxiety that slowly ate away at her.
In truth, there was one final option. Everyone except Casano had ignored it, but Undine knew it was there.
"It's fine. If we really can't find anything... then... then I can just contract with Casano to solve this, right? I'll only be contracting with him, but I can still travel with Sein."
To cope with the reality that her efforts to heal Sein had resulted in nothing but repeatedly coupling with Casano, Undine gradually began to rationalize her actions, burying her guilt.
Ultimately, everything the insidious Casano had said and done under the pretense of helping her was slowly eroding her innocent mind—though she remained blissfully unaware of it to the very end.
Sein stared blankly into space, his mouth slightly agape.
It was a habit he had formed while left alone in the camp ever since his legs had been ruined.
"They're quite late today as well..."
It was the fifth day since the three of them had been trapped in the goblin colony. Ever since Casano, who had taken charge of their schedule, decided to go on scouting trips with Undine, Sein's daily routine consisted of nothing but sitting in the camp, waiting.
"They seem to be getting closer by the day..."
Sein felt anxious. Compared to a nobody like himself, Casano was a respected Silver-rank mercenary who carried himself with mature confidence. Sein's only advantage in his relationship with Undine was their long-standing familiarity. Yet, ever since Casano and Undine started scouting together, it was painfully obvious how close they had become.
"Am I just worrying over nothing?"
And yet, nothing had outwardly changed in their behavior. Undine was still as sweet to him as she had been when they first met, and Casano, who had looked after him since the caravan journey, continued to accommodate Sein's crippled state, helping him despite the inconvenience.
"No, I can't be so naive."
Spirits were incredibly rare. A spirit like Undine, who was at least intermediate-grade and possessed a distinct sense of self, was likely one of a kind. It was highly probable that Casano had grown greedy after spending so much time with her.
"And besides, I liked Undine first..."
Sein managed to rein in the chaotic emotions and anger swirling in his mind. In doing so, he finally defined his feelings for Undine as clear, romantic affection.
At first, he had thought of her merely as a spirit he could contract with—just a passing interest. But the days they had spent together had taken deep root in his subconscious. The mere thought of Undine clinging to Casano, contracting with him, and leaving Sein behind made his stomach churn with intense jealousy.
Was this love? Was this affection? It was hard to define the exact word, but Sein knew his feelings of affection were entirely genuine.
"Something is approaching..."
Because he spent every day lying down or leaning against the cave wall, Sein's senses had become remarkably sharp. It was a natural consequence of only being able to move his upper body.
If goblins found him while Casano and Undine were away, any resistance he put up would be futile, and he would die a dog's death. Consequently, his body had become highly attuned to the slightest presence, gaze, or sound in his surroundings, allowing him to detect an approach even now.
"No footsteps... Is it Undine?"
Just as he suspected, it was Undine approaching from the distant tunnel. Still deeply troubled by what had happened with Casano, she was flying low with a furrowed brow, slowly making her way toward Sein.
"Her expression is so dark... Did something happen?"
A burning ache flared in his chest. It was rare to see the usually bright and smiling Undine look so downcast. Had something happened between her and Casano? Suspicion and irritation toward Casano flared up like a raging fire.
"Ah! Sein!"
Lost in thought with her head bowed, Undine suddenly realized she had reached the camp. She looked up and greeted him warmly.
As she flew over and gently clung to him like an affectionate puppy, Sein offered a sheepish smile, feeling a deep sense of relief wash over him.
"...Yes, Undine hasn't changed. I just need to do my part."
Watching her hesitate slightly as if wanting to embrace him, Sein steeled his resolve, reached out, and gently pulled her semi-translucent body into his arms.
He felt the soft, springy texture of her arms against his hands. But something was different. Previously, touching her felt like dipping his hands into a cool, refreshing river. Today, however, Undine felt lukewarm.
Having no idea that she was warm because she had been held tightly in Casano's embrace, absorbing his body heat and dense mana, Sein simply assumed she had been working hard. Suppressing the rising doubt in his mind, he welcomed her.
"Nothing happened out there, right?"
"Mmh... yeah..."
Avoiding his gaze, Undine cast a quick glance over her shoulder to see if Casano was following before continuing the conversation.
"Was it hard waiting? You must have been bored."
Sein let out a soft chuckle at her childish concern.
"What's there for me to find hard? You and Casano are the ones doing all the heavy lifting."
"No, it's fine! Casano is really strong. He just goes *whoosh, whoosh* and it's over in a flash. It was easy!"
As Undine casually praised Casano's strength, a wave of inferiority washed over Sein once more.
"Is she saying I'm weak?"
He *was* weak, but hearing her say that while he was lying here crippled rubbed him the wrong way. Of course, Undine had absolutely no malicious intent, but Sein, already consumed by victim mentality and insecurity, found himself spiraling back into dark, negative thoughts.
"By the way... why didn't Casano come back with you?"
"Huh?! Oh... um, I just... came ahead of him."
"I see..."
"In the past, she would have happily chirped, 'Because I wanted to see you, Sein!'..."
An awkward silence settled over the cavern. Undine, fearing she might upset the already sullen Sein and make him angry again, kept her mouth shut. Meanwhile, Sein, consumed by the negative emotions gnawing at his mind, paid less attention to Undine herself and focused entirely on his swelling suspicions.
Thud. Thud.
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from a distance. It wasn't the light, frantic pattering of a goblin, but the steady, deliberate stride of a fully armed warrior. Sein knew instantly that it was Casano.
Undine, who had been awkwardly resting in Sein's embrace, instinctively pulled away at the sound of the approaching footsteps. Slipping out of his loosely wrapped arms, she floated back into the air and watched for Casano's arrival.
"Everything quiet while we were gone, Sein?"
Casano greeted him casually, as if nothing had happened. In his hand, he held a small leather pouch. Noticing Undine eyeing the pouch, Casano chuckled and held it up.
"Oh, this? After you left, Undine, a few goblins crawled up from the stairs."
"Really?! I'm sorry for leaving you behind..."
"Don't worry about it. There were only two, but one was a hobgoblin, so I harvested its horn."
"That's great! We're gathering quite a lot of loot, aren't we?"
"At this rate, we'll make more here than we would have from the merchant escort mission. Isn't that great, Sein?"
Watching the two of them converse so familiarly, Sein was caught off guard when his name was suddenly called. He stammered in response.
"Ah, yes. I... I suppose so. But I haven't done anything to help..."
Casano waved his hand dismissively.
"We only found this colony because of Undine, so of course you've helped. Just hang in there a bit longer. We only need a few more magic stones."
"A few more... That's a relief."
"Right. Let me sort this out quickly, and I'll whip up some food for us. You two hang out for a bit."
"We're not hanging out, it's a strategy meeting! A strategy meeting!"
Amused by her innocent protest, Casano chuckled and playfully pinched Undine's soft cheek before heading toward the water source.
Rubbing her slightly stretched cheek, Undine drifted back to Sein's side.
Sein watched them, unable to suppress the dark suspicions festering in his chest. No, he didn't want to suppress them anymore. Because now, those suspicions were rapidly hardening into absolute certainty...